The Soun of Ogbomosoland, His Imperial Majesty Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III, has renewed calls for a community-driven approach to combating insecurity across Nigeria, urging state governors to strengthen vernacular and local security structures as frontline responders.
The monarch made the appeal in a statement titled “Rising Wave of Insecurity and the Need for Proactive Countermeasures,” signed by his Special Assistant on Media and Community Relations, Rev’d Peter Olaleye.
Oba Olaoye stressed that Nigeria cannot rely solely on conventional policing to confront evolving threats such as banditry, insurgency, communal clashes, and cross-border criminal infiltration. He argued that because criminal activities often begin at the community level, response strategies must also start from the grassroots.
“Security is local, crime is local,” he said. “Insurgency, banditry, communal clashes, and even misinformation all begin in communities before becoming national crises. Our response must therefore begin at the grassroots by empowering local security as first responders.”
The monarch urged governors to prioritise and strengthen local security formations—especially Amotekun, OPC, vigilantes, hunters’ guilds, and forest guards—given their deep knowledge of community terrain, culture, and early-warning signals.
“These groups, when properly coordinated, serve as an effective buffer zone capable of detecting threats long before they escalate,” he said, adding that they complement, rather than replace, the Nigeria Police Force.
Oba Olaoye also underscored the central role of traditional institutions in community security, noting that traditional rulers remain closest to the grassroots and can mobilise local support for government-led interventions.
“We traditional rulers are uniquely positioned to galvanise community cooperation for state-led interventions,” he stated. “We must be fully integrated into local and state security frameworks to strengthen coordination.”
Highlighting Ogbomoso’s strategic location as a boundary corridor into the Southwest, the Soun reminded authorities of the need for heightened vigilance in the area.
“My domain is the first boundary town in Southwest Nigeria. This makes vigilance a necessity,” he said. “The Police, Amotekun, forest guards, and other local security groups must be equipped to manage border inflows and prevent criminal penetration.”
The monarch reiterated that no security architecture can succeed without the active participation of locals who understand the heartbeat of their communities.
